Apparatus for physical exercise comprising a vibrating handle

ABSTRACT

The present invention concerns an apparatus for physical exercise comprising at least one handle, vibrating means being coupled to said at least one handle, the apparatus being characterised in that said vibrating means is connected to a processing and controlling device that is housed in a control panel and in turn connected to interface means for inputting data capable to set a vibration frequency of said vibrating means, said at least one handle comprising first sensing means capable to detect a vibration frequency of said at least one handle and to send detection data to said processing and controlling device, said processing and controlling device controlling an operation of said vibrating means so that the vibration frequency detected by said first sensing means is equal to a vibration frequency set through said interface means.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for physical exercise comprising at least one vibrating handle, allowing a user, in a simple, effective, reliable, safe, comfortable, and inexpensive way, to undergo a mechanical neuromuscular stimulation produced through mechanical vibrations, exerted through the handle on at least one upper limb of a user, for a therapeutic and/or athletic enhancement purpose.

It is known that when a muscle is stimulated through application of mechanical vibrations, it contracts in a reflex way very similar to what occurs when the muscle is caused to work through voluntary contractions, e.g. during execution of physical exercises.

In particular, by modifying the mechanical vibration frequency, it is possible to selectively cause more or less rigid muscles to work.

Recently, many equipments for physical exercise having (at least) one vibrating element, usually activated by an electric motor, have been manufactured, which are capable to exert, through mechanical vibrations, a mechanical muscular stimulation; such equipments substantially comprise footboards for the leg muscles, and vibrating handles for the arm muscles.

Such equipments are useful for training, since they permit to obtain in a shorter time results similar to those of the usual physical exercises in a gym, for getting a good muscle tone with few minutes of application, and for physiotherapical uses aimed at maintenance of the muscle tone or at the functional recovery of the muscles, e.g. during or after periods of immobilisation due to fractures or surgery.

However, present equipments with vibrating elements have some drawbacks.

First of all, their use is inadvisable to elderly subjects, or subjects who have had recent trauma (or surgery, in particular orthopaedic surgery).

Moreover, a further drawback rises from the fact that the limbs, when subjected to mechanical vibrating stimulation, of any subject have a different rigidity, also called “stiffness”, and, consequently, they tend to differently oppose to the same (in amplitude and oscillation) vibration that is applied to the vibrating elements with which the same limbs interact. This entails that the assembly formed by the vibrating elements and interacting limbs will react in a different way to the vibrations generated by the motor depending on which limbs interact with the vibrating elements. By way of example, when both lower limbs are resting on a same vibrating footboard, the latter will move according to accelerations which are not exactly the ones corresponding to each one of the two different limbs, whereby the neuromuscular stimulation has not the maximum possible efficacy and, in some extreme cases (in particular when the stiffness of the two limbs is very different, as it occurs for instance after a period of immobilisation of one of the two limbs), it may also be harmful. Similar considerations are valid for the two upper limbs with a pair of vibrating handles.

Also, neuromuscular stimulation loses efficacy over time, due to adaptation of the limbs to the vibrating stresses to which they are subjected.

In this context, the solution proposed according to the present invention is introduced.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to allow a user in a simple, effective, reliable, safe, comfortable, and inexpensive way, to undergo a neuromuscular stimulation through vibrations transmitted to the muscles of the upper limbs, for both therapy and athletic enhancement.

It is specific subject-matter of the present invention an apparatus for physical exercise comprising at least one handle, vibrating means being coupled to said at least one handle, the apparatus being characterised in that said vibrating means is connected to a processing and controlling device that is housed in a control panel and in turn connected to interface means for inputting data capable to set a vibration frequency of said vibrating means, said at least one handle comprising first sensing means capable to detect a vibration frequency of said at least one handle and to send detection data to said processing and controlling device, said processing and controlling device controlling an operation of said vibrating means so that the vibration frequency detected by said first sensing means is equal to a vibration frequency set through said interface means.

Always according to the invention, said vibrating means may comprise at least one electric motor, that is housed in a respective seat with which said at least one handle is provided, capable to make a shaft rotate, preferably arranged along a longitudinal axis of said at least one handle, to which shaft one or more eccentric masses are integrally coupled, said at least one handle preferably further comprising a fan capable to cause an air exchange between said seat of said at least one electric motor and the outside of said at least one handle, said at least one electric motor being preferably capable to generate an undulating movement at a frequency preferably ranging from 1 to 1000 Hz, more preferably from 5 to 500 Hz, still more preferably from 20 to 55 Hz, and of amplitude preferably ranging from 1 to 10 mm, more preferably from 2 to 5 mm, said at least one electric motor being preferably capable to rotate both clockwise and counterclockwise and said interface means for data input being capable to set at least one direction of rotation of said at least one electric motor.

Still according to the invention, said first sensing means may comprise an encoder capable to detect an angular position and/or a rotation speed and/or a rotation frequency of the shaft.

Furthermore according to the invention, said at least one handle may be provided with at least one pressure sensor capable to detect at least one pressure exerted on a handgrip of said at least one handle and to send detection data to said processing and controlling device, said interface means comprising one or more visual and/or acoustic signalling devices through which said processing and controlling device signals at least one condition of gripping said at least one handle depending on said at least one pressure detected by said at least one pressure sensor.

Always according to the invention, said processing and controlling device may signal a gripping condition wherein said at least one detected pressure is lower than at least one minimum value.

Still according to the invention, said processing and controlling device may disable an operation of said vibrating means when said at least one detected pressure is lower than at least one minimum value.

Furthermore according to the invention, the apparatus may further comprise a detection system comprising movement sensing means capable to detect a movement of said at least one handle, said movement sensing means preferably comprising at least one triaxial accelerometer incorporated into or integrally coupled to said at least one handle, said movement sensing means being connected to said processing and controlling device to which it sends detected data related to one or more movement parameters preferably selected from the group comprising movement amplitude, acceleration, and velocity, said processing and controlling device preferably automatically controlling said vibrating means on the basis of said data detected by said movement sensing means.

Always according to the invention, the apparatus may further comprise vibration sensing means preferably comprising at least one triaxial accelerometer incorporated into or coupled to at least one support applicable to and/or wearable by a user, said at least one support being preferably selected from the group comprising an elastic collar and an elastic band, said vibration sensing means being connected to said processing and controlling device to which it sends detected data related to one or more movement parameters preferably selected from the group comprising vibration amplitude, frequency, acceleration, and velocity, said processing and controlling device preferably automatically controlling said vibrating means on the basis of said detected data by said vibration sensing means.

Furthermore according to the invention, the apparatus may further comprise a system for determining an optimal frequency of a vibration generated by said vibrating means and for automatically setting parameters of operation of said vibrating means, comprising one or more muscular electrical activity sensors, preferably electromyography sensors, applicable to one or more muscles of a user, capable to send detection data to said processing and controlling electronic device, said processing and controlling electronic device processing the data received from said one or more sensors so as to determine, within a range included between a lower limit frequency, preferably equal to 1 Hz, more preferably variable, and an upper limit frequency, preferably equal to 1000 Hz, more preferably variable, an optimal frequency of the vibration generated by said vibrating means at which the electrical activity of said one or more muscles of the user is maximum, said processing and controlling electronic device setting a frequency of the vibration generated by said vibrating means so that it is equal to such optimal frequency.

The apparatus for physical exercise according to the invention permits to be used in complete safety also by subjects very sensitive to mechanical vibrations, such as elderly subjects, and/or suffering from osteoporosis, and/or who have had recent trauma (or orthopaedic surgery). In particular, the apparatus for physical exercise according to the invention may be used by subjects under rehabilitation and hence for physiotherapical use, where it is necessary a particularly calibrated use.

Furthermore, the apparatus for physical exercise according to the invention is capable to take account of the different stiffness, in particular neuromuscular stiffness, of the user's upper limbs, that generates a different reaction of the neuromuscular system of each limb to the vibrations generated by the motor. In fact, the apparatus for physical exercise according to the invention permits to assess the different muscle stiffness of the user, monitoring the different acceleration to which each vibrating element is subjected, so as to permit a different neurostimulation of the limbs deriving from the different acceleration induced by the different stiffness of the same limbs, allowing to obtain a high efficacy for each single upper limb of each specific user. This causes the neuromuscular stimulation exerted by the apparatus for physical exercise according to the invention to be extremely effective.

Moreover, the possibility of reversing the rotation directions of the vibrating motor permits to create a different neuromuscular stimulation, avoiding that an adaptation of the neuromuscular structures, in particular of the limbs, to the received stimulation creates and, consequently, maintaining over time efficacy of the same stimulation.

Since the apparatus for physical exercise according to the invention may be provided with an either automatic or manual control of the motor operation, through the flexible possibility of combinations of amplitude, frequency, and acceleration over all the axes, it is adapted to any subject, with very soft and pleasant vibrations for elderly and neophyte subjects, indispensable during the first steps of rehabilitation from accidents or after surgery, for elongation and decompression, and also with powerful vibrations for enhancing use of strength.

In this regard, the apparatus for physical exercise according to the invention has numerous advantageously applications. By way of example, and not by way of limitation, it may be used in the context of strategies aimed at particular geriatric pathologies, such as in case of osteoporosis, and in all those plans, whether these are rehabilitation ones or not, directed to improvement of the quality of life, intended in terms of degree of articular, muscle and neuromuscular function of the geriatric subject under consideration. Also, the apparatus for physical exercise according to the invention may be advantageously used in the field of sports training, most of all when the latter is aimed at increasing the levels of explosive strength, being as a matter of fact an optimal alternative and/or supplementary technique with respect to the classical strength training. Furthermore, the apparatus for physical exercise according to the invention may be still advantageously used as an integral part of all programs wherein the maximum limb muscle extensibility is desired, as well as in work plans aimed at chronic painful pathologies which may benefit from an increase of the muscular-tendinous compliance.

The present invention will be now described by way of illustration, not by way of limitation, according to its preferred embodiments, by particularly referring to the Figures of the annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a cross-section view of a handle of a first embodiment of the apparatus for physical exercise according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the first embodiment of the apparatus for physical exercise according to the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of the apparatus for physical exercise according to the invention; and

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of the apparatus for physical exercise according to the invention.

In the, following description, the same reference numerals will be used to designate the same elements in the Figures.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, it may be observed that a first embodiment of the apparatus for physical exercise according to the invention comprises a handle 200 at an end of which an electric motor 5 is coupled, that is housed in a respective seat, internal to a housing 207, closed by a removable cover 208, removably attached to the housing 207 through screws 230 (or other conventional attaching means). A fan 217, located in proximity of the motor 5, provide for cooling the latter, thanks to proper apertures (not shown) allowing hot air produced by the motor 5 to flow from the inside of the housing 207 towards the outside. The motor 5 is capable to make a shaft 201 to rotate, which shaft is arranged along the longitudinal axis 202 of the handle 200, to which eccentric masses 204 are integrally coupled, preferably symmetrically with respect to a transverse axis 203 of the handle 200. In this way, when the electric motor 5 rotates the shaft 201, this puts in rotation the eccentric masses 204, within respective housing seats internal to the ends 205 and 206 of the handle 200, transmitting vibrations to the same handle 200. Advantageously, the handle 200 is provided with a non slip coating (not shown), e.g. in rubbery material, for enabling a firm grip by the user.

The motor 5 generates an undulating movement at a frequency preferably ranging from 1 to 1000 Hz, more preferably from 5 to 500 Hz, still more preferably from 20 to 55 Hz, and of amplitude preferably ranging from 1 to 10 mm, more preferably from 2 to 5 mm. Moreover, the motor 5 may rotate both clockwise and counterclockwise.

The motor 5 of the handle 200 is connected through a wired connection 213 to a control panel 209 provided with a processing device connected to a display 210, to a keypad (not shown) for data input, to an on/off button 211, and to a button 212 for turning the motor 5 off in case of emergency. Alternatively, the connection between motor 5 and control panel 209 may be also wireless, e.g. in the case where the power necessary to the operation of the motor 5 is provided through a battery housed in the same handle 200 or through an alternative connection to a mains supply. The keypad of the control panel 209 may be also integrated into the display 210, that in this case is of touch screen type. The control panel 209 enables a user to set and control the operation of the motor 5. In particular, when the motor 5 rotates, either clockwise or counterclockwise, it causes the handle 200 to make a specific undulating-vibrating movement concordant with the direction of rotation of the motor 5. Therefore, the two different directions of rotation of the latter permit to generate two different neuromuscular stimulations.

The user (or a supervising operator, such as, for instance, a physiotherapist) may set on the control panel 209 the direction of rotation of the motor 5, as well as its frequency. In other embodiments of the apparatus for physical exercise according to the invention it is possible to set through the control panel 209 also the vibration amplitude, e.g. by automatically selecting the number and/or the weight of the eccentric masses 204 which are removably coupled to the shaft 201.

Other embodiments of the apparatus for physical exercise according to the invention may provide that the vibrating handle comprises more than one vibrating motor (or two or more other vibrating means), preferably two or more electric motors with eccentric masses, more preferably having the longitudinal axes aligned along the longitudinal axis 202 of the handle 200.

The handle 200 is provided with a system for detecting the vibration frequency of the handle 200, that in the preferred embodiment shown in the Figures comprises a sensor for sensing the rotation speed of the shaft 201. Such a system enables to precisely control that the handle 200 actually vibrates at the vibration frequency set on the control panel 209. In fact, wear over time of the vibrating means, comprising in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the motor 5, the shaft 201 and the eccentric masses 204, causes a consequent modification of the mechanical strengths that as a matter of fact varies the actual vibration frequency (in the case of FIGS. 1 and 2, the wear of the eccentric masses 204 causes a variation of the rotation speed of the same eccentric masses 204). In the preferred embodiment, such system for detecting the rotation speed of the motor 5 comprises an encoder 218 applied to the shaft 201 that sends the detected data, related to the angular position and/or rotation speed and/or rotation frequency of the shaft 201, to the processing device of the control panel 209. The processing device of the control panel 209 processes the data received from the encoder 218 and consequently adjusts the rotation speed of the motor 5 so that the vibration frequency of the handle 200 is equal to the vibration frequency set on the control panel 209. Alternatively to or in combination with the encoder 218, the system for detecting the vibration frequency of the handle 200 may comprise other sensors, such as sensors for sensing angular movement.

The handle 200 is further provided with a system for detecting the movement of the handle 200. This system comprises (at least) one sensor for sensing vibrations (not shown in the Figures), such as a triaxial accelerometer, preferably integrally coupled to an end of the handle 200 or incorporated into a corresponding seat internal to the handle 200, so as to detect the accelerations along the three Cartesian axes. The triaxial accelerometer sends the detected data, related to one or more movement parameters (such as, for instance, movement amplitude, acceleration and velocity), to the processing device of the control panel 209, that processes the same, e.g., for obtaining the amplitudes related to the oscillations and indirectly defining the degree of contraction and relaxation of the peripheral muscles of the user. Alternatively to or in combination with the triaxial accelerometer, the detection system may comprise other sensors for sensing the movement of the handle 200.

Such system for detecting the movement of the handle 200, directly providing for the data related to the movement of the handle 200, depending on the neuromuscular reaction of the user's limbs, enables a supervising operator to monitor and characterise the best use of the same handle 200. In fact, the movement of the handle 200 is strongly affected by the user's capacities of managing the vibrations (e.g. through the stiffness of the limbs, the muscle elasticity, etc.). By way of example and not by way of limitation, in the case where the acceleration detected by the triaxial accelerometer is lower than a maximum threshold, then the use of the handle 200 is not harmful for the user, otherwise, i.e. in the case where the detected acceleration is equal to or larger than said maximum threshold, it is necessary to modify, possibly also automatically through the processing device, the frequency at which the vibrating motor 5 operates because the high detected acceleration is an indication of the fact that the user does not absorb vibrations; said maximum threshold of acceleration is preferably a value depending on the amplitude and/or frequency at which the vibrating motor operates, and more preferably it is adjustable depending on the user's state, being higher for an athlete than for an elderly or traumatised subject.

Alternatively to or in combination with the sensors (preferably triaxial accelerometers) for detecting the movement parameters of the handle 200, the just described detection system may comprise (at least) one second triaxial accelerometer (or another sensor), indicated in FIG. 2 with the reference number 214, connected through either wireless or wired connection to the processing device, applicable, preferably through an elastic collar or an elastic band (into which it is preferably inserted), to the user 215, preferably in correspondence with the proximal end of the humerus (i.e. in correspondence with the humeral head) of the arm interacting with the handle 200 and/or at the neck base and/or around the waist and/or around another limb of the user 215. This (at least one) second triaxial accelerometer 214 is capable to detect one or more parameters of the vibrations (such as, for instance, amplitude, frequency, acceleration and velocity) transmitted to the user 215, permitting a control of the vibrating motor 21 that is either automatic by the processing device or manual by an operator (e.g. a physiotherapist) for preventing the generated vibrations from reaching the soft tissues of the user 215.

Other embodiments of the vibrating footboard according to the invention may be also provided with a system for determining the optimal frequency of vibration and for automatically setting the parameters of operation of the (at least one) vibrating motor 5. In fact, each organ, or body segment, can be described as a body having its own vibration resonance frequency, thus attenuating different vibrating frequencies. In this regard, the exposure of body segments and internal organs to resonance frequencies must be limited, since it may be harmful for some organs. This means that an optimal frequency of activation of the musculature corresponds to each person and to each muscle of the same person.

Preferably, the system for determining the optimal frequency of vibration and for automatically setting the parameters of operation of the (at least one) vibrating motor 5 with which the handle 200 according to the invention may be provided is the one disclosed in International Patent No. WO 01/56650. In order to determine whether a muscle undergoing vibration is vibrating at its own optimal frequency of activation, such system may advantageously use one or more electromyography surface sensors, applied on one of the extensor muscles of the user's arm interacting with the handle 200, preferably on the biceps muscle. Such system permits to test a plurality of muscular groups, through a plurality of electromyography channels, to compare them and to define the state of use of the muscular systems under consideration.

In the following, the basic features of the system that is subject matter of the International Patent No. WO 01/56650 applied to the apparatus for physical exercise according to the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are briefly recalled.

The motor 5 is driven by a processing and controlling electronic device, preferably housed in the control panel 209 of the handle 200 (and possibly coinciding with the processing device of the previously described detection system), that regulates its vibration frequency. In particular, such electronic device is capable to be connected through a cable 216 to one or more muscular electrical activity sensors (preferably electromyography sensors) applicable to the muscles of the user 215, capable to output a digital signal that is read by the electronic device; alternatively, the muscular electrical activity sensors may be connected to the electronic device through a wireless connection. The electronic device processes data coming from said one or more sensors so as to determine, within a range included between a lower limit frequency, preferably equal to 1 Hz, and an upper limit frequency, preferably equal to 1000 Hz, the optimal frequency of vibration of the motor 21 at which the muscle the electrical activity of which is detected has the maximum response to the stimulation and, consequently, setting the frequency of vibration of the same motor. In particular, the lower limit frequency and the upper limit frequency could be variable, depending on the specific fibres of the particular muscle to stimulate, and settable through the control panel 209 of the handle 200.

Once said one or more sensors have been applied, in a conventional way, to corresponding user's muscles, the method for determining the optimal frequency preferably comprises the following steps:

-   -   repeating for a number N of times, with N preferably equal to         eight, a step of data acquisition wherein the electronic device:         -   activates the vibration at constant frequency of the motor             21 for a time Δt, with Δt preferably equal to 5 or 10             seconds, with vibration frequency progressively increasing             from a repetition to the subsequent one and included between             the lower limit frequency and the upper limit frequency,         -   computes, for each repetition, the average of the amplitude             of the signal coming from each one of said one or more             sensors and it individually stores it and/or it stores at             least one function (e.g. a possibly weighted sum or average)             of the averages coming from all the sensors, along with the             value of the corresponding vibration frequency;     -   determining the maximum electric response, wherein the         electronic device determines, among the stored ones, the average         (or said at least one function of the averages) having maximum         value, consequently determining the optimal frequency of         vibration, at which the muscles the electrical activity of which         has been detected have the maximum response.

Preferably, the frequencies of consecutive repetitions, during data acquisition, have a constant difference from one another, more preferably equal (for eight repetitions) to 20 Hz, 25 Hz, 30 Hz, 35 Hz, 40 Hz, 45 Hz, 50 Hz, and 55 Hz, respectively. However, it is also possible to have a variable and increasing difference according to a function of the absolute value of the frequency of the preceding repetition.

Once that the optimal frequency has been determined, it is possible to start the step of muscle stimulation, wherein the electronic device activates the vibration of the motor 5 at such optimal frequency for a time span that is predetermined or selectable by the user 215 (or by a supervising operator) through the control panel 209 of the handle 200.

Possibly, the step of determining the optimal frequency may be periodically repeated, most of all in the case where the time span of the physical exercise is long.

Alternatively, the method for determining the optimal frequency could determine such frequency by successive approximations, through execution of the following steps:

iterating for a number M of times, with M preferably equal to two, cycles of a number N, of repetitions, where i determines the i-th iteration, of steps of data acquisition wherein the electronic device activates the vibration at constant frequency of the motor 5 for a time Δt, with Δt preferably equal to 10 seconds, with vibration frequency progressively increasing from a repetition to the subsequent one and included between a first lower frequency and a second upper frequency, the frequencies of consecutive repetitions having a constant difference Δf_(i), from one another, where preferably, for the first iteration, the first lower frequency coincides with the lower limit frequency and/or the second upper frequency coincides with the upper limit frequency, the electronic device processing, for each repetition, the average of the amplitude of the signal coming from said one or more sensors and storing it along with the value of the corresponding vibration frequency, the electronic device determining for each iteration i the average having maximum value and determining the corresponding best frequency, in each iteration i, subsequent to the first one, the range between the first lower frequency and the second upper frequency comprising the best frequency as determined in the preceding iteration, preferably as intermediate frequency, in each iteration i, subsequent to the first one, the constant difference Δf_(i) between the frequencies of consecutive repetitions being lower than the difference Δf_(i−1) of the preceding iteration (Δf_(i)<Δf_(i−1));

determining the optimal frequency, at the end of the M-th iteration, wherein the best frequency determined at the M-th iteration is stored as the optimal frequency, at which the muscles the electrical activity of which has been detected have the maximum response.

In other words, the just described method determines the optimal frequency aiming at determining with progressively better resolution the vibration frequency at which the muscles the electrical activity of which has been detected have the maximum response.

Possibly, the values of the optimal frequencies corresponding to various muscles of the same user could be also stored in portable memory media, such as magnetic and/or optical cards or discs, through an interface of the control panel 209 of the handle 200, for being readable afterwards by the same interface, avoiding further executions of the method for determining the optimal frequency.

The handle 200 is further provided with a pressure sensor 219 (shown in FIG. 2), located in the zone of the handgrip of the same handle 200, connected to the processing device housed in the control panel 209 to which it sends the detected data. The processing device evaluates and displays on the display 210 the curve of the behaviour of the pressure exerted by the hand of the user 215 grasping the handle 200, for allowing the user 215 (and/or a supervising operator) to monitor the use of the handle 200 during the exercise, also for diagnostic purposes. In fact, a variation of the pressure exerted by the hand of the user 215 grasping the handle 200 substantially modifies the electrical activity of the muscles to which the vibration is transmitted. Therefore, it is important to maintain the pressure exerted by the hand of the user 215 grasping the handle 200 as much close as possible to a reference value, so as to correctly carry out the physical exercise and also to correctly evaluate the variations of electromyographic activity detected by muscular electrical activity sensors at different frequencies for searching the optimal frequency of vibration as previously described. By way of example, the processing device may signal (e.g. visually, through the display 210 or specific LEDs, and/or acoustically, through buzzers and/or loudspeakers):

if the pressure exerted by the user 215 on the handle 200 is lower than a minimum value, preferably asking for a better handgrip (i.e. a higher pressure) before enabling the operation of the motor 5 if off or automatically interrupting (possibly after a time period of warning) the operation of the motor 5 if already operating;

if the pressure exerted by the user 215 on the handle 200 is higher than the minimum value but yet lower than a tolerance value (that is higher than the minimum value), preferably asking for a better handgrip (i.e. a higher pressure) before enabling the operation of the motor 5 (while if the motor 5 is already operating the operation is not interrupted if the pressure does not fall below the minimum value or if within a time period of warning the pressure exceeds the tolerance value).

Other embodiments of the handle 200 may be devoid of such pressure sensor 219.

Other embodiments of the apparatus for physical exercise according to the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be further conventionally provided with a heart rate monitor.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a second embodiment of the apparatus for physical exercise according to the invention that is different from that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein the encoder 218 (or other angular velocity sensor) is integrally coupled to the same end of the handle 200 to which the motor 5 is coupled.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the apparatus for physical exercise according to the invention, comprising a pair of vibrating handles 200, connected to the same control panel 209′, preferably provided with two displays 210 and respective keypads, supported by a column 220. The apparatus of FIG. 4 allows a user to carry out a specific mechanical neuromuscular stimulation on both the arms.

Obviously, electrical wiring provided for the apparatus for physical exercise according to the invention must be suitably insulated in order to ensure user's safety, and arranged so as not to hinder the performance of gymnastic exercises.

The preferred embodiments have been described and variations of the present invention have been suggested hereinbefore, but it should be understood that those skilled in the art can make modifications and changes, without so departing from the related scope of protection thereof, as defined by the enclosed claims. 

1. An apparatus for physical exercise comprising at least one handle, vibrating means being coupled to said at least one handle, wherein said vibrating means is connected to a processing and controlling device that is housed in a control panel and in turn connected to interface means for inputting data capable to set a vibration frequency of said vibrating means, said at least one handle comprising first sensing means capable to detect a vibration frequency of said at least one handle and to send detection data to said processing and controlling device, said processing and controlling device controlling an operation of said vibrating means so that the vibration frequency detected by said first sensing means is equal to a vibration frequency set through said interface means.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vibrating means comprises at least one electric motor, that is housed in a respective seat with which said at least one handle is provided, capable to make a shaft arranged along a longitudinal axis of said at least one handle rotate, to which shaft one or more eccentric masses are integrally coupled.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first sensing means comprises an encoder capable to detect an angular position and/or a rotation speed and/or a rotation frequency of the shaft.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one handle is provided with at least one pressure sensor capable to detect at least one pressure exerted on a handgrip of said at least one handle and to send detection data to said processing and controlling device, said interface means comprising one or more visual and/or acoustic signalling devices through which said processing and controlling device signals at least one condition of gripping said at least one handle depending on said at least one pressure detected by said at least one pressure sensor.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said processing and controlling device signals a gripping condition wherein said at least one detected pressure is lower than at least one minimum value.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said processing and controlling device disables an operation of said vibrating means when said at least one detected pressure is lower than at least one minimum value.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 1, it further comprising a detection system comprising movement sensing means capable to detect a movement of said at least one handle, said movement sensing means being connected to said processing and controlling device to which it sends detected data related to one or more movement parameters.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising vibration sensing means connected to said processing and controlling device to which it sends detected data related to one or more movement parameters.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that it further comprising a system for determining an optimal frequency of a vibration generated by said vibrating means and for automatically setting parameters of operation of said vibrating means, comprising one or more muscular electrical activity sensors, applicable to one or more muscles of a user, capable to send detection data to said processing and controlling electronic device, said processing and controlling electronic device processing the data received from said one or more sensors so as to determine, within a range included between a lower limit frequency, and an upper limit frequency, an optimal frequency of the vibration generated by said vibrating means at which the electrical activity of said one or more muscles of the user is maximum, said processing and controlling electronic device setting a frequency of the vibration generated by said vibrating means so that it is equal to such optimal frequency.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said at least one handle further comprises a fan capable to cause an air exchange between said seat of said at least one electric motor and the outside of said at least one handle.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said at least one electric motor is capable to generate an undulating movement at a frequency ranging from 1 to 1000 Hz, preferably from 5 to 500 Hz, more preferably from 20 to 55 Hz, and of amplitude ranging from 1 to 10 mm, preferably from 2 to 5 mm.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said at least one electric motor is capable to rotate both clockwise and counterclockwise and said interface means for data input is capable to set at least one direction of rotation of said at least one electric motor.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said movement sensing means comprises at least one triaxial accelerometer incorporated into or integrally coupled to said at least one handle.
 14. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said one or more movement parameters related to said detected data sent by said movement sensing means to said processing and controlling device are selected from the group comprising movement amplitude, acceleration, and velocity.
 15. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said processing and controlling device automatically controls said vibrating means on the basis of said data detected by said movement sensing means.
 16. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said vibration sensing means comprises at least one triaxial accelerometer incorporated into or coupled to at least one support applicable to and/or wearable by a user.
 17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said at least one support is selected from the group comprising an elastic collar and an elastic band.
 18. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said one or more movement parameters related to said detected data sent by said vibration sensing means to said processing and controlling device are selected from the group comprising vibration amplitude, frequency, acceleration, and velocity.
 19. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said processing and controlling device automatically controls said vibrating means on the basis of said detected data by said vibration sensing means.
 20. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said lower limit frequency is variable and/or said upper limit frequency is variable. 